The Olympic games, whether it be summer or winter are highly anticipated and surrounded with excitement all across the world. The opening ceremonies held on Friday February 9th kicked off the 23rd winter Olympic games. This year in particular the games in PyeongChang symbolize much more than winter sports competition, but a promise for the future and hope for the host country of Korea to start a journey towards peace with their North Korean neighbors.

The opening ceremonies were heavily influenced by traditional Korean culture as well as symbols of peace, regrowth, and hope for the future as athletes from both North Korea and South Korea walked in together as the last country in the opening march.

Junior Eukyung Hong, a South Korean citizen, reacted positively to the united Korean team. “I really liked it because overall South Korea is fond of unification, and that just seemed like a good first step in building relationships together.”

While North Korean leader Kim Jung-Un was not in attendance at the opening ceremonies, his sister Kim Yo-jong represented North Korea and was sitting with Vice President Mike Pence watching the opening ceremonies. Many think that this will be start of breeching the gap and creating a unified Korea.

While most are supportive of this move, some students described feelings of disappointment at how this seemed to be more of a statement rather than to form the best teams possible.

Junior Jessica Kim remarked “The [Korean] women’s hockey team had about a month or so to prepare together and were unable to compete as strongly as other national teams that practiced for years in advance.”

With 92 countries competing and several athletes competing for the Olympic flag, this Olympics has already seen excitement as well as history being made. This year the Unites States brought the most athletes with 242 competitors, making history as the most a country has ever had. Norway holds the current lead in medals at 19, six of those being gold; the USA is in fifth place for overall medal count with eight.

Several historic moments for the USA included: 17 year old Red Gerard winning the first gold for the USA, Mira Nagasu becoming the first American and only third woman ever to land a triple axel at the Olympics, and Adam Rippon as one of the first openly gay members to compete in the winter games.